The silly season is quickly approaching. A time of celebration, warm summer days, full calendars and sometimes… excessive plastic waste. Enjoy a bit more space in the wheely bin this holiday season by consciously reducing the disposable plastic and packaging. Here are some ways you can easily swap out plastic for more eco-friendly alternatives.
Avoid plastic gifts
Make a conscious decision to completely avoid plastic toys in your gift giving this year. Choose instead beautiful books, high quality solid timber toys, handmade cloth dolls or vouchers for experiences such as visits to the local zoo, waterslide park or the movies. For adults, plastic is easier to avoid, but still when you start looking to avoid it, you’ll notice how prevalent it really is.
Avoid plastic Christmas decorations
Most of us have existing plastic Christmas decorations in our stash. If you love them keep them and continue to reuse them each year. Find new and creative ways to display them each year and avoid buying new decorations annually. If you are really due for an update, skip the plastic and select handmade felt or fabric decorations, hand carved wooden figures, timeless brass accents or make your own ornaments such as paper snowflakes, toilet roll Santas or dehydrated orange slices.
Skip the plastic party poppers and plastic filled Christmas crackers
We all know the majority of Christmas cracker contents end up in the bin at the end of the day. There are some ‘luxury’ cracker products which sometimes last a bit longer, but they cost a bomb and do you really need another nail clipper or key ring? Avoid the wastage all together and either skip crackers this year or make your own using toilet rolls, twine and kraft paper or buy a DIY kit. Pop a handwritten joke and something actually useful into the crackers like a guest soap, packet of seeds, lip balm (try one in a cardboard tube or individually wrapped fancy chocolates.
Avoid plastic tableware
Clean up after a Christmas feast is no walk in the park and the temptation to make it as easy is possible leads to purchases of plastic cutlery, plates and tablecloths. Ideally stick to reusable tableware to avoid wastage. If you really need disposable options, skip the plastic and choose from a growing and affordable range of either paper, bamboo or palm leaf plates and bowls. Pick up a white sheet from a local op shop for your tablecloth or use some butchers paper (get the kids to stamp some stars on it for a festive flourish). Even better, invest in a nice Christmas themed tablecloth you can use year after year.
Avoid plastic ribbons, sticky tape and plastic-coated paper
Most gift ribbons are actually made from synthetic fibres, which means they are essentially made from plastic. Instead use raw cotton binding, silk ribbons or rustic twine to adorn your gifts. Ensure also that the paper you use to wrap your gifts is made from uncoated, kraft paper (extra points if you can find recycled), otherwise it can’t be thrown into the recycling and will end up in landfill. Skip the plastic sticky tape too and use ribbons or string to secure your gifts. Even better, wrap gifts in cotton or linen fabric and secure with string so you can avoid paper all together and reuse year after year.
Avoid plastic packaged food
This is not an easy task, but you’d be surprised to see what options are available once you begin to seek out non plastic packaging in the food isles. Opt for crackers and cookies in a cardboard box rather than a plastic packet; bring your own containers when visiting the deli; go for the loose fresh produce over the bags of salad, carrots or cucumbers. It’s virtually impossible to avoid plastic altogether when catering for large groups, but it does count to look for alternatives. The more consumers choose the non-plastic packaging, the more brands will have to cater to our demands.
Avoid plastic food wrap
Let’s be honest, leftovers are inevitable over the Christmas break. But rather than preserving those tasty treats with plastic cling wrap and disposable takeaway containers, consider either using reusable glass storage containers for your food or wrapping leftovers in reusable beeswax wraps. The wraps can also be used as a flexible cover for the remnants of your potato salad and tray of roasted meats, meaning less washing up on the day. Back in the day, before plastic was invented, waxed fabric was used to keep meat, bread and cheeses fresh. Now in a range of stylish fabrics with a delightful honey scent (thanks to the beeswax content) wax wraps are a come-back that was worth waiting for.
The only way the pesky-and-prevalent-plastic-problem gets solved is through individual action on a collective scale. Begin in whatever way you can, and over time you’ll find your purchasing habits begin to shift. Christmas is a great time to start!
Alison Gallagher is a freelance writer, resourcefulness expert, entrepreneur and mother of two young children. She has been featured in various publications including Stellar Magazine, Australian Health and Fitness Magazine, and Cleo Magazine. Alison is particularly passionate about sharing practical tips on how to live simply, sustainably and seasonally.
